Meeting Scheduled To Address Crime In Old Town Temecula

Concerns about crime have prompted a group of Old Town Temecula merchants to reach out to officials, and now a public meeting has been set to address the unease.

Officers from the Temecula Police Department's Problem Oriented Policing Team and city officials are expected to be on hand for the Jan. 25 meeting that has been scheduled for 8 a.m. at Temecula City Hall, 41000 Main St. Dozens of merchants are expected to attend and the community is invited.

According to a letter submitted to the city and the police department, the merchants say they are concerned about what they feel is an increase in break-ins, property loss, and also the loss of life in Old Town. They are also concerned about transients in the area.

During the upcoming meeting, the merchants are hoping officials will explain "what steps will be taken to eliminate this unhealthy environment before more robberies and violence occur," according to the Oct. 28 letter.

After hearing that a meeting had been set, on Jan. 18 Temecula City Councilman Ron Roberts advised City Manager Aaron Adams, in writing, of his support for the merchants.

"I fully support getting our PD, especially our POP team involved in helping the merchants along Old Town Front street, south of Santiago, with their crime issues. I am still concerned we never solved the murder of the music shop employee up to now.

"There is a lot of foot traffic after dark from homeless who live in the river bed that probably could use stronger Code enforcement and other enforcement," Roberts wrote.

"Bottom line, I fully support our City's efforts to help our merchants feel safer in that area of our City," he continued.

For more information about the meeting, contact Barry Mayer at 951-676-0567.